Thomas W. Haywood

Psychological aspects of sexual functioning among cleric and noncleric alleged sex offenders.

Cleric sexual misconduct with minors is a problem receiving increased attention from the media, victims groups, and church authorities. Mental health professionals are increasingly being asked to assist church and civil authorities to help better understand the problem of cleric sexual misconduct with minors. In the current study we compared self-reported sexual functioning among cleric alleged child molesters, noncleric alleged child molesters, and normal control subjects. We hypothesized clerics would differ from nonclerics and normals in reported sexual functioning. Our sample included 30 Roman Catholic clerics and 39 nonclerics who were alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct with minors, and 38 normal control subjects, all of whom took the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI) as part of their forensic psychiatric evaluation. Our results indicated clerics were more likely to report fewer victims, older victims, and victims of male gender than noncleric alleged child molesters. Clerics differed from nonclerics and normal control subjects on several dimensions of self-reported sexual functioning. Lower offense rate histories among clerics suggest that, as a group, clerics may be less seriously psychologically disordered than noncleric child molesters. Low DSFI scores among Roman Catholic clerics may be accounted for in part by their unique training and socialization process. Future studies should attempt to study the influence of social desirability on DSFI scores. Normative data from nonoffending celibate clergy are needed.

Characteristics of Women in Jail and Treatment Orientations: A Review

Women who have been incarcerated are a high-risk group for criminal recidivism, and criminal justice statistics indicate that females are increasing in numbers more rapidly than the male detainee population. According to data from epidemiologic studies, incarcerated women are often young, single, mothers from ethnic minority backgrounds who have little education and poorwork histories. Mental illness, drug abuse, and risky behaviors relating to contracting HIV/AIDS are common problems among female detainees. In this report, research into characteristics of women in jail and literature relating to treatment programs for incarcerated women are reviewed. Implications relating to treatment needs, program development, and further research are, Hurbert, Sarmiento discussed. A case example and treatment intervention are presented based on this review.

Cycle of abuse and psychopathology in cleric and noncleric molesters of children and adolescents

Sexual abuse in childhood is frequently reported among sex offenders and has been hypothesized to be one of a number of psychological factors etiologically related to perpetration of child molestation in adulthood. In the current study we examine a sample of cleric and noncleric admitted child molesters and normal control subjects in their exposure to sexual abuse in childhood and current psychopathology. Odds ratios for the association between exposure to sexual abuse and child molestation were obtained while adjusting for group differences in demographic and psychological characteristics. Results indicated exposure to sexual abuse in childhood was associated with becoming a child molester for both cleric and noncleric offenders (p < .0002). Nonclerics indicated more severe psychopathology than clerics. Sexual abuse in childhood is one of many risk factors for becoming a perpetrator of child molestation in adulthood for both cleric and noncleric child molesters. Noncleric offenders demonstrated more sociopathy and mental disorder in general while cleric offenders indicated more sexual conflictedness, suggesting different psychoetiologies of offending among cleric and noncleric child molesters.

Denial and Social Desirability in Clinical Evaluations of Alleged Sex Offenders

Clinicians are increasingly being requested to evaluate alleged sex offenders. Denial of sex offenses and minimization of psychopathology is common in such patients. We studied the relationship between denial of deviant sexual behavior and minimization/exaggeration of problems (i.e., response bias) during clinical evaluations in 59 alleged sex offenders. The data indicated that patients who denied allegations of deviant sexual behavior showed significantly more minimization of problems than did admitters (p < .001), and patients who admitted allegations showed more exaggeration of problems than did deniers (p < .05). Response bias was significantly associated with a number of personality characteristics. In particular, alleged offenders who denied deviant sexual behavior were more likely to be defensive about undesirable personality characteristics and to minimize problems than were those who admitted to deviant sexual behavior. When defensive, alleged sex offenders were likely to minimize anxiety and personality disorders. The data support the forensic utility of psychological testing in the assessment of alleged sex offenders.

Denial of deviant sexual arousal and psychopathology in child molesters

To provide information about whether alleged sex offenders honestly report their patterns of sexual interest and whether this varies with self-report of symptoms of psychopathology, the present study assessed 75 alleged child molesters and 41 normal subjects using a subjective index of self-reported sexual, interest known as the Pictorial Sexual Interest Card Sort (PSICS) and the MMPI. Results indicated that child molesters who denied allegations reported significantly less sexual interest in children than did admitters or normal subjects. Self-report of low deviant sexual interest was associated with minimization of psychopathology for child molesters. Individuals who molested boys reported significantly more sexual interest in boys and men than did normal subjects or individuals who molested girls. Individuals who molested girls reported less interest in adult women than did normal subjects. Incestuous child molesters admitted to less sexual interest in children than did nonincestuous child molesters. The latter results further support the use of the PSICS as a subjective self-report measure of sexual interest. However, clinicians should be especially cautious about accepting self-reports of deviant sexual interest by child molesters who deny deviant sexual behavior and minimize psychopathology.

Profiling Psychological Distortion in Alleged Child Molesters

Sex offenders frequendy show denial and distortion during forensic psychological evaluations, but research into assessment of rationalizations and cognitive distortions among sex offenders has been limited We examined patterns of psychological distortion in 59 alleged child molesters. We compared fake-good and fake-bad orientations on the MMPI with psychological distortion on the Multiphasic Sex Inventory questionnaire which assesses various psychosexual characteristics among sex offenders. Analysis indicated that distortion on the Multiphasic Sex Inventory indices of minimization and exaggeration was significantly associated with response-bias on the MMPI. Cognitive-distortion indices were highly influenced by response-bias. Admitters differed from deniers on scales with items requiring admission or denial of offenses. Caution is warranted in clinical interpretation of the validity scales of this questionnaire, which are of limited utility for deniers. Subtle items on cognitive-distortion indices may be useful in assessment of those who deny and should be subjected to further research.

Detection of Minimization of Psychopathology on the Rorschach in Cleric and Noncleric Alleged Sex Offenders

The assessment of response-bias is critical in forensic psychological evaluations of alleged sex offenders because sex offenders frequently minimize psychopathology or personal limitations. This study tested predictions based on prior research that minimization on the Rorschach would be reflected by higher P, D, A, Lambda, and PER, and lower R, Blends, and Zf. We divided a sample of cleric and noncleric alleged sex offenders according to (a) whether they showed minimization on the MMPI, and (b) whether they admitted to their charges. We then compared these groups on the purported Rorschach validity indices. Our results do not support the use of any of these Rorschach scores in the assessment of minimization. We recommend that in forensic psychological evaluations, the Rorschach should not be used to assess defensiveness and is best used in combination with other psychometric instruments more sensitive to response-bias.